What is the meaning of Proverbs 13:20? He who walks with the wise Walking implies steady, day-by-day movement. God’s wisdom often comes to us along the path of daily relationships. • Psalm 1:1 reminds us that blessing begins with avoiding “the counsel of the wicked,” while Proverbs 27:17 declares, “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” • Choosing wise companions means seeking out people who prize Scripture, love righteousness, and practice discernment. Their habits, speech, and outlook rub off on us just as surely as iron sharpens iron. • Notice that Solomon doesn’t tell us merely to listen to the wise; he tells us to walk with them—share life, decisions, and struggles together. Will become wise Influence is powerful. Proverbs 9:9 says, “Instruct a wise man, and he will be wiser still,” and James 1:5 promises that God generously supplies wisdom to those who ask. • When we surround ourselves with godly voices, we learn how Scripture applies to real life. • Wisdom is not instantaneous; it is cultivated. Repeated exposure to truth, honest accountability, and practical counsel form a pattern that shapes our thinking and character. • The verse assures us this process is reliable: walking with the wise leads to becoming wise. But the companion of fools A fool, in biblical language, ignores God’s commands and despises correction (Proverbs 1:7, 12:26). • 1 Corinthians 15:33 warns, “Bad company corrupts good character.” • Proverbs 14:7 adds, “Stay away from a fool, for you will not find knowledge on his lips.” • Being a “companion” goes beyond casual contact; it entails close association—sharing values, laughing at the same jokes, adopting the same priorities. Such alignment with folly is spiritually dangerous. Will be destroyed Foolish influence always carries a cost. Proverbs 10:14 states, “The mouth of the fool invites destruction,” and Luke 6:39 pictures the blind leading the blind until “both fall into a pit.” • Destruction may appear as shattered relationships, squandered resources, moral compromise, or even physical harm. • God’s Word does not exaggerate: persistent fellowship with those who reject wisdom moves a person toward ruin. • The contrast is stark—wisdom produces life and growth; folly produces loss and devastation. summary Proverbs 13:20 sets two pathways side by side. Share life with the wise, and their God-given insight will shape you for good. Bind yourself to fools, and their recklessness will pull you toward destruction. Scripture calls each believer to choose companions intentionally, trusting that God’s promise of wisdom is sure for those who walk with the wise. |
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